War Graves Week celebrations have begun in Bloemfontein, with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) hosting a series of commemorative events at Hamilton Cemetery.
The site, which holds 83 Commonwealth war graves from both World Wars, reflects South Africa’s often overlooked military history and diverse contributions to global conflicts. A school-focused programme was held on 19 May, while a more formal remembrance event was held on Thursday, 21 May from 09:30 to 12:00. This gathering included veterans, Memorable Order of Tin Hats members, museum representatives, speakers, and a wreath-laying ceremony honouring the fallen.
Joey Monareng, senior operations supervisor for the commission, says part of their responsibility is to mark, record, and maintain the memorials of the men and women who died in the First and Second World Wars across the nine provinces of the country.
“This also reminds us about why we do what we do. War is part of our history; it is a part of who we are. It is a reminder of things that happened in the past, but also a warning of what happens when we don’t do things right because the casualty is always a loss of life.”
